On May 18, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a mark-up on the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, also referred to as the FDA user fee bill. During the mark-up, Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Joe Kennedy (D-MA) offered the language from the Over-the Counter (OTC) Hearing Aid Act (H.R. 1652) as an amendment to the FDA user fee bill. The Health Subcommittee agreed to the amendment and approved the overall legislation. This legislation now goes to the full committee for consideration.

Previously, the Health Subcommittee held a series of hearings[3] on the FDA user fee bill and related legislation, including the OTC Hearing Aid Act. The Senate Help Committee approved[4] similar legislation with an OTC provision last Thursday.